Lttdwig gsttber



May 30, 1933.

GRUB ER CLOSURE FOR TUBES Filed April 25, 1932 70 van (of:

Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES LUDWIG- GRUBER, OF BERLIN. GERMANY CLOSURE FOR TUBES Application filed April 23, 1932, Serial No.

The present invention relates to an automatic tube closure which when pressure is applied to the tube allows the contents of the latter to pass out, but when the pressure is no longer applied again closes the tube automatically in a completely air-tight manner.

Tube closures 'arealready Well known in which there is located in the tube neck a spring actuated closure member having a central opening, which member when pressure is applied to the tube is moved forwardly by the contents of the tube and thus exposes an outlet opening, whilst when pressure is no longer applied the closing member is again pressed back into the closing position by the action of the spring. 'In this case the closure member is so constructed that together with a stationary middle portion of the tube closure it closes two superposed passages. The closure is effected by bending the closure member in the form of a U whilst its upper end is slightly drawn inwardly. The spring holding the closure member in the closing position bears in this known construction against a separate screw cap.

According to the present invention the part of a tube closing valve, consisting at the most of three parts, subjected to spring pressure is not U-shaped, but is of cylindrical shape, whilst the tube neck is provided with an internal shoulder. In the present application the spring which holds the closure member in the closing position bears directly against the tube neck itself.

The invention will now be described with reference to a number of examples of construction shown in the accompanying draw: ing, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a valve according to one 40 form of construction in the normal position. Figure 2 shows the same valve in the open position.

Figure 3 shows an underside view of the same valve.

tion of a valve in the closed position.

Figure 5 shows an underside View of the same valve, and

Figures 6 and 7 show further forms of construction of valves in the closed position.

Figure 4 shows another form of construc- 607,193, and in Germany January 5, 1932.

In all the formsof construction the tube neck 1 1s provided at the middle with a cylindrlcal opemng which at the bottom is enlarged so as to form a chamber 12. In the cylindrical opening there slides a cylinder 2 which at the bottom is provided with an enlargement 3 which fits accurately into the chamber 12 and can slide in the latter. In the chamber 12 there is located above the enlargement 3 a pressure spring 4 which presses the enlargement 3 in the normal position against a bar 5, which is secured to the tube neck 1 and at its middle carries a rod'6 to the upper end of which is secured apiston 7. Tlus plston corresponds in shape accurately with the upper opening of the cylinder 2. The chamber 12 containing the pressure spring 4 is provided with a vent hole 11. The upper ends of the tube neck,cylinder and piston are preferably so ground that the closure from the outside has the appearance of a unitary cone. i

In the form of construction according to F gures 1 to 3 the rod 6 is formed integral with the piston 7. Between the rod 6 and the cylinder 2 there is provided an annular passage 8 through which the contents of the tube can pass. In the forms of construction according to Figures 4 and 7 I no free space is provlded between the piston 6 and the cyl .inder 2, but the cylinder 2 slides on the sta-.

tionary piston 6. In the form of construction according to Figure 7 the rod 6 is also formed integral with the piston 7 For this reason the cylinder 2 is provided with one or more passages 13 which at the top lead to openings 14, whereas in the forms of construction according to Figures 4 to 6 the rod 6 is hollow and at its front end 7 is provided with a number of openings 9- which in the normal position are closed by the ,adjacently lying wall of the cylinder 2.

If now the cylinder 2 is moved upwardly in the tube neck by the pressure of the contents of the tube acting'on the enlargement 3, against the action of the spring, the openings 9 come to lie opposite corresponding recesses 10 in the cylinder 2 so that the mass can pass unobstructedly to the outside through the openings 9. In the form of conor a rendering useless o liability;

struction according to Figure 7 the cylinder 2 is also moved forwardly by the pressure of the contents of the tube. In this manner the openings 14 are exposed so that the tube contents can pass out inwardly through the middle of the closure device. In the constructions according to Figures 1 to 3 the passage 8, by the forward movement of the cylinder 2 is opened at the top adjacent the piston 7 so that also in this case the contents of the tube can pass out.

v When pressure is no longer applied to the tube the cylinder 2 is returned to its previous position by the spring 4 whereby the outlet openings in each case' are closed and the pressed out strip can be removed.

After wiping off the strifp the tube is completely clean. A soiling o the tube contents the remainder thereof cannot occur as the tube is completely closed. The new closure makes such an e iective closure that even liquids dispensable in drops can be stored directly without any to leakage in the normal position. As t e tube is closed in a completely airtight manner the contents thereof can be stored and are capable of being used for a considerable lengthof time as they do not harden, are not soiled and do not deteriorate.

It willabe understood that the new closure can also be a plied to old tubes of usual construction. or this purpose it is solely necessary to provide the new closure at its lower end with a suitable screw thread which corresponds with the screw threads of the tubes of usual construction.

The new closure can be readily produced by die castings or from suitable sheet metal.

I claim 1. An automomatic tube closure compris-f mg a neck member having shoulder in said bore, a tu ular member slidably mounted in said bore, a flange on said tubular member, a spring between said shoulder and said flange, a bar secured to said neck member and extending transversely across said tubular member, and a piston secured to said bar, said piston being hollow and having apertures therein, said tubular member having recesses in its inner face,

- said recesses being normally out of register with saidaperture but being adapted to be tube and longitudinally idable therein, said I valve tubular and open at both ends, a fixed r -form member within the valve,-

brou ht into register therewith when the tub ar member is moved against the pressure of the spring.

'2. An. automatic closure for a tube for fluent material, having an outlet at one end,

compnsmg a fixed hollowtube neck open from end to end, a valv located within the the inner surface of said tubular valve contacting in one position of said parts to close against passage of the tube contents through a bore therein, a

for engagement by the inner end of the spring means and situated between the spring an the tube contents, said projection having a large area in direct contact with the tube contents.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LUDWIG GRUBER. 

